By Greg Durette, Florida Health Connector
As with most big transitions/life elections, normalcy tends to fade and turmoil prevails. Medicare enrollment, while a big adjustment on many levels, can be relatively simple and painless—once you know how!
Most people looking to learn more about Medicare and their enrollment options could visit a local office, attend a seminar or sit down in the comfort of their home with a qualified, licensed agent among the many available avenues. This process could take several visits to become comfortable with the available choices, and it should. Even Joe Namath (not a qualified, licensed agent by the way!) would be hard pressed to help a person feel knowledgeable and comfortable with just one phone call, despite claims to the contrary.
Well, even with those in person options available, most folks like to do a little research on their own in advance of taking any additional steps. This makes sense since the questions you have for you are far more important than what your friends and family tell what you should be thinking. Keep in mind they bring only their perspective to the conversation and likely don’t know the details that make up the intimate considerations you are facing.
So, what are your options to gather the information you need to make sure you are making the right choices to make your enrollment happen as smoothly as possible?
The first step is getting in touch with someone qualified to provide you with information for your specific needs. As you approach age 65, you get bombarded with email, regular mail, TV ads and phone calls and then every Annual Election Period (October 15 – December 7) thereafter. That type of information overload typically helps no one figure things out and, as I have been told on many occasions, tends to make things even more confusing. When it comes to Medicare, quality, individualized information trumps volume of information every time.
Let’s get started on the right foot. The first thing you will need to do is apply for your Medicare Parts A & B. There are a number of issues surrounding this first step so again, it would be wise to seek out a qualified, licensed person to guide you. Also, it is best to begin this process right when you are first eligible which for most, is 3 months prior to the month in which you will turn 65.
While waiting for your Medicare card to be issued (sometimes up to 6-8 weeks), you will have the perfect opportunity to explore your other options. Those options range from (but are not limited to) simply sticking with Original Medicare (Parts A & B only) plus getting a Stand-Alone Prescription Plan (Part D) to avoid unintended, lifelong penalties or choosing between an Advantage Plan or a Supplement Plan. Each comes with its own benefits and potential issues/considerations.
It seems like a lot because it is. However, if you take the time and are able to ignore the constant din of your telephone ringing and mailbox being stuffed, you will eventually come to understand the best choice for you and your specific set of needs.
Fast forward where you have your Medicare card in hand and have decided on the best plan choice for you. Congratulations! There is only one last step to take—actually getting enrolled. With so many enrollment options available, what is a person to do?
You can relax in knowing many insurance companies have implemented multiple options to help get you enrolled in a timely manner. The two most popular being an in-person sit down with a licensed, trained professional or telephone call to your local representative. You can meet at an office or sit back in the comfort of your own home and rest assured all will be taken care of quickly and professionally.
Some, not all, insurance agents/brokers will be able to offer you the options of not just different insurance companies from which to choose but also, help you understand the costs and benefits of both Advantage plans and Supplement plans.
The differences can be dramatic and will have a tremendous impact on your healthcare and the ability to choose the doctors and hospitals of your choice—not to mention out of pocket costs.
Following these tips will help alleviate much of the hectic stress this major transition/continuation often causes.
As a side note, you can use this process to help eliminate the stress of comparing your existing plan to another as well as oftentimes, most companies/plans change their benefits and/or costs every year. This upcoming year looks to be a doozie!
The ability to review and make changes to your previous choices is an extremely powerful tool you have at your disposal, so long as you know how and when to use it.
Boom! Welcome to stress-free Medicare enrollment.
Greg Durette is a qualified, licensed agent with Florida Health Connector providing Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans throughout the State and is based in Niceville. He has been in the insurance industry for over 42 years and can be reached at his office at 850-842-2400 or his mobile at 978-509-2941.
